The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has kicked off a nationwide public consultation process aimed at collecting feedback on proposed revisions to park entry and conservation fees.

The initiative marks the first significant overhaul of Kenya’s conservation fee structure since 2007 and is designed to modernize the country’s wildlife management funding framework.

Running from July 29 to August 8, 2025, the consultation will feature 20 in-person forums in various counties, including Homa Bay, Kisumu, Lamu, Eldoret, Mombasa, and Nairobi, among others.

The forums are expected to generate robust national dialogue, particularly from communities bordering protected areas, conservation stakeholders, and tourism operators.

According to KWS Director General Erustus Kanga, the review is anchored on the draft Wildlife Conservation and Management (Access and Conservation) (Fees) Regulations, 2025, and an accompanying Regulatory Impact Statement.

“We’re not just adjusting numbers; we are recalibrating a system to ensure Kenya’s wildlife heritage thrives for generations,” Kanga said, underscoring the government’s commitment to transparency and inclusive decision-making.

Tourism accounts for nearly 90 percent of KWS’s internal revenue. However, rising operational costs, inflation, and growing climate-related pressures have strained this model.

Currently, 72 percent of KWS’s budget goes to personnel expenses, while only 10 percent is allocated to development priorities like ranger housing, vehicle purchases, and wildlife surveillance.

Notably, just five national parks Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, Nairobi, Tsavo East, and Tsavo West generate 73 percent of total revenue, effectively subsidizing over 150 other conservation sites across the country.

The proposed fee adjustments aim to secure financial sustainability for conservation efforts, improve infrastructure in national parks, enhance visitor safety, and expand community benefit-sharing programs in wildlife-adjacent areas.

KWS has made participation accessible through physical forums, their website (www.kws.go.ke), and printed materials available at all KWS-managed sites.

Written submissions are welcome via email at rates@kws.go.ke or by post, with the deadline set for August 5, 2025. A final report consolidating public feedback will be compiled, after which the revised regulations will be presented to Parliament for consideration and approval.